Doctor’s surgery in Bicester to close due to changes in GP contract

More than 4,000 patients in Bicester will have find a new doctor after it was confirmed a practice is due to close at the end of September.

North Bicester Surgery will be shutting its doors on September 30 as it says changes in the national GP contract have made the practice financially unviable.

Two of the three GP partners are also due to retire with the third partner to pursue other interests when the practice closes.

Dr Andrew Gibson, senior partner at North Bicester Surgery, said: “The decision to close the practice has not been taken lightly and we would like to thank our patients for the loyalty they have shown us and the good relationships we have built with them over the years.

“Many of them registered at North Bicester Surgery when it first started in 1993 and saw us grow and move from portable buildings into a purpose-built NHS surgery in 2000.

“We are working with Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS England to help support our patients during this period of change.”

Patients at the surgery can continue to be seen by their GP at the practice until it closes, but will need to register with another GP practice of their choice before the end of September. There are four nearby GP practices in Bicester.

Julie Dandridge, head of primary care and localities at Oxfordshire CCG, said: “We are working closely with North Bicester Surgery to help them support all of their patients during this time.”

“We understand some patients may be worried about these changes but we are positive they will continue to receive good treatment from one of the four other GP practices in the Bicester area or wherever they choose to register.”

Debra Elliott, director of commissioning at NHS England (South Central), said: “NHS England will continue to work with Oxfordshire CCG and North Bicester Surgery to ensure the smooth transfer of patient care and records and those patients with more complex conditions are supported as they look to move to alternative GP practices.”

To find out about alternative GP practices visit the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk to find a list of practices and contact details, or patients can contact NHS England’s customer contact centre on 0300 311 2233 for information on GP practices closest to where they live.